Navigation device and method for establishing and using profiles

ABSTRACT

A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes providing a plurality of profiles, each including a plurality of operational settings, to a user of a navigation device for selection; and configuring the navigation device, upon receipt of an indication of a selection of a profile, to operate in accordance with the plurality of operational settings of the selected profile. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes an integrated input and display device to display a plurality of profiles, each including a plurality of operational settings, for selection by a user of the navigation device; and a processor to configure the navigation device, upon receipt of an indication of a selection of a profile, to operate in accordance with the plurality of operational settings of the selected profile.

CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

The following applications are being filed concurrently with the presentapplication. The entire contents of each of the following applicationsis hereby incorporated herein by reference: A NAVIGATION DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR EARLY INSTRUCTION OUTPUT (Attorney docket number 06P207US01)filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ENHANCEDMAP DISPLAY (Attorney docket number 06P207US03) filed on even dateherewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD RELATING TO AN AUDIBLERECOGNITION MODE (Attorney docket number 06P207US04) filed on even dateherewith; NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING POINTS OF INTEREST(Attorney docket number 06P207US05) filed on even date herewith; ANAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FUEL PRICING DISPLAY (Attorney docketnumber 06P057US06) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR INFORMATIONAL SCREEN DISPLAY (Attorney docket number06P207US06) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHODFOR DEALING WITH LIMITED ACCESS ROADS (Attorney docket number06P057US07) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHODFOR TRAVEL WARNINGS (Attorney docket number 06P057US07) filed on evendate herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DRIVING BREAK WARNING(Attorney docket number 06P057US07) filed on even date herewith; ANAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ISSUING WARNINGS (Attorney docketnumber 06P207US07) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR DISPLAY OF POSITION IN TEXT READABLE FORM (Attorney docketnumber 06P207US08) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE ACCESS (Attorney docket number 06P057US08)filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FORPROVIDING REGIONAL TRAVEL INFORMATION IN A NAVIGATION DEVICE (Attorneydocket number 06P207US09) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATIONDEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING SPECIAL CHARACTERS IN A NAVIGATION DEVICE(Attorney docket number 06P207US09) filed on even date herewith; ANAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD USING A PERSONAL AREA NETWORK (Attorneydocket number 06P207US10) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATIONDEVICE AND METHOD USING A LOCATION MESSAGE (Attorney docket number06P207US10) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHODFOR CONSERVING POWER (Attorney docket number 06P207US11) filed on evendate herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING A TRAFFICMESSAGE CHANNEL (Attorney docket number 06P207US13) filed on even dateherewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING A TRAFFIC MESSAGECHANNEL RESOURCE (Attorney docket number 06P207US13) filed on even dateherewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR QUICK OPTION ACCESS(Attorney docket number 06P207US15) filed on even date herewith; ANAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A RICH CONTENT DOCUMENT(Attorney docket number 06P207US27) filed on even date herewith.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)on each of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/879,523 filedJan. 10, 2007, 60/879,549 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60/879,553 filed Jan. 10,2007, 60/879,577 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60/879,599 filed Jan. 10, 2007,and 60/879,529 filed Jan. 10, 2007, the entire contents of each of whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present application generally relates to navigation methods anddevices.

BACKGROUND

Navigation devices were traditionally utilized mainly in the areas ofvehicle use, such as on cars, motorcycles, trucks, boats, etc.Alternatively, if such navigation devices were portable, they werefurther transferable between vehicles and/or useable outside thevehicle, for foot travel for example.

These devices are typically tailored to produce a route of travel basedupon an initial position of the navigation device and a selected/inputtravel destination (end position), noting that the initial positioncould be entered into the device, but is traditionally calculated viaGPS Positioning from a GPS receiver within the navigation device.

SUMMARY

The inventors discovered that navigation devices of today include manyfeatures and functions that are often difficult to find and use becauseso many functions are becoming available. The inventors discovered thata need exists to make it easier to use and find features they desire.Furthermore, the inventors discovered that it is difficult to adapt thesettings of a device to a different situation or user needs (which maychange from time to time) in an efficient and easy way. Thus, theinventors of the present application developed a method andimplementation on a navigation device, to allow users to select,activate, or adjust profiles to vary settings and enable features in auser friendly manner.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a method includesproviding a plurality of profiles, each including a plurality ofoperational settings, to a user of a navigation device for selection;and configuring the navigation device, upon receipt of an indication ofa selection of a profile, to operate in accordance with the plurality ofoperational settings of the selected profile.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a navigationdevice includes an integrated input and display device to display aplurality of profiles, each including a plurality of operationalsettings, for selection by a user of the navigation device; and aprocessor to configure the navigation device, upon receipt of anindication of a selection of a profile, to operate in accordance withthe plurality of operational settings of the selected profile.

In at least one other embodiment of the present application, a methodincludes determining whether or not received information triggersimplementation of a profile on the navigation device; and implementingthe profile, upon determining that the received information triggersimplementation of a profile, by configuring the navigation device basedupon a plurality of operational settings of the profile.

In at least one other embodiment of the present application, a deviceincludes a processor to determine whether or not received informationtriggers implementation of a profile on the navigation device, and toimplement the profile, upon the processor determining that the receivedinformation triggers implementation of a profile, by configuring thenavigation device based upon a plurality of operational settings of theprofile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present application will be described in more detail below by usingexample embodiments, which will be explained with the aid of thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example view of a Global Positioning System (GPS);

FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of electronic components ofa navigation device of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a server, navigationdevice and connection therebetween of an embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of an implementation of anembodiment of the navigation device;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of an example embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9A, 9B, and 10-12 illustrate example display screens ofan embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 13 illustrates another example embodiment of the presentapplication; and

FIGS. 14A-C illustrate an example embodiment for conveying an activeprofile to a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentinvention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

In describing example embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specificterminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosureof this patent specification is not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that eachspecific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in asimilar manner.

Referencing the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, exampleembodiments of the present patent application are hereafter described.Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example view of Global Positioning System (GPS),usable by navigation devices, including the navigation device ofembodiments of the present application. Such systems are known and areused for a variety of purposes. In general, GPS is a satellite-radiobased navigation system capable of determining continuous position,velocity, time, and in some instances direction information for anunlimited number of users.

Formerly known as NAVSTAR, the GPS incorporates a plurality ofsatellites which work with the earth in extremely precise orbits. Basedon these precise orbits, GPS satellites can relay their location to anynumber of receiving units.

The GPS system is implemented when a device, specially equipped toreceive GPS data, begins scanning radio frequencies for GPS satellitesignals. Upon receiving a radio signal from a GPS satellite, the devicedetermines the precise location of that satellite via one of a pluralityof different conventional methods. The device will continue scanning, inmost instances, for signals until it has acquired at least threedifferent satellite signals (noting that position is not normally, butcan be determined, with only two signals using other triangulationtechniques). Implementing geometric triangulation, the receiver utilizesthe three known positions to determine its own two-dimensional positionrelative to the satellites. This can be done in a known manner.Additionally, acquiring a fourth satellite signal will allow thereceiving device to calculate its three dimensional position by the samegeometrical calculation in a known manner. The position and velocitydata can be updated in real time on a continuous basis by an unlimitednumber of users.

As shown in FIG. 1, the GPS system is denoted generally by referencenumeral 100. A plurality of satellites 120 are in orbit about the earth124. The orbit of each satellite 120 is not necessarily synchronous withthe orbits of other satellites 120 and, in fact, is likely asynchronous.A GPS receiver 140, usable in embodiments of navigation devices of thepresent application, is shown receiving spread spectrum GPS satellitesignals 160 from the various satellites 120.

The spread spectrum signals 160, continuously transmitted from eachsatellite 120, utilize a highly accurate frequency standard accomplishedwith an extremely accurate atomic clock. Each satellite 120, as part ofits data signal transmission 160, transmits a data stream indicative ofthat particular satellite 120. It is appreciated by those skilled in therelevant art that the GPS receiver device 140 generally acquires spreadspectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from at least three satellites 120for the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its two-dimensionalposition by triangulation. Acquisition of an additional signal,resulting in signals 160 from a total of four satellites 120, permitsthe GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its three-dimensional positionin a known manner.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of electronic components ofa navigation device 200 of an embodiment of the present application, inblock component format. It should be noted that the block diagram of thenavigation device 200 is not inclusive of all components of thenavigation device, but is only representative of many examplecomponents.

The navigation device 200 is located within a housing (not shown). Thehousing includes a processor 210 connected to an input device 220 and adisplay screen 240. The input device 220 can include a keyboard device,voice input device, touch panel and/or any other known input deviceutilized to input information; and the display screen 240 can includeany type of display screen such as an LCD display, for example. In atleast one embodiment of the present application, the input device 220and display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input anddisplay device, including a touchpad or touchscreen input wherein a userneed only touch a portion of the display screen 240 to select one of aplurality of display choices or to activate one of a plurality ofvirtual buttons.

In addition, other types of output devices 250 can also include,including but not limited to, an audible output device. As output device250 can produce audible information to a user of the navigation device200, it is equally understood that input device 240 can also include amicrophone and software for receiving input voice commands as well.

In the navigation device 200, processor 210 is operatively connected toand set to receive input information from input device 240 via aconnection 225, and operatively connected to at least one of displayscreen 240 and output device 250, via output connections 245, to outputinformation thereto. Further, the processor 210 is operatively connectedto memory 230 via connection 235 and is further adapted to receive/sendinformation from/to input/output (I/O) ports 270 via connection 275,wherein the I/O port 270 is connectible to an I/O device 280 external tothe navigation device 200. The external I/O device 270 may include, butis not limited to an external listening device such as an earpiece forexample. The connection to I/O device 280 can further be a wired orwireless connection to any other external device such as a car stereounit for hands-free operation and/or for voice activated operation forexample, for connection to an ear piece or head phones, and/or forconnection to a mobile phone for example, wherein the mobile phoneconnection may be used to establish a data connection between thenavigation device 200 and the internet or any other network for example,and/or to establish a connection to a server via the internet or someother network for example.

The navigation device 200, in at least one embodiment, may establish a“mobile” network connection with the server 302 via a mobile device 400(such as a mobile phone, PDA, and/or any device with mobile phonetechnology) establishing a digital connection (such as a digitalconnection via known Bluetooth technology for example). Thereafter,through its network service provider, the mobile device 400 canestablish a network connection (through the internet for example) with aserver 302. As such, a “mobile” network connection is establishedbetween the navigation device 200 (which can be, and often times ismobile as it travels alone and/or in a vehicle) and the server 302 toprovide a “real-time” or at least very “up to date” gateway forinformation.

The establishing of the network connection between the mobile device 400(via a service provider) and another device such as the server 302,using the internet 410 for example, can be done in a known manner. Thiscan include use of TCP/IP layered protocol for example. The mobiledevice 400 can utilize any number of communication standards such asCDMA, GSM, WAN, etc.

As such, an internet connection may be utilized which is achieved viadata connection, via a mobile phone or mobile phone technology withinthe navigation device 200 for example. For this connection, an internetconnection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 isestablished. This can be done, for example, through a mobile phone orother mobile device and a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)-connection(GPRS connection is a high-speed data connection for mobile devicesprovided by telecom operators; GPRS is a method to connect to theinternet.

The navigation device 200 can further complete a data connection withthe mobile device 400, and eventually with the internet 410 and server302, via existing Bluetooth technology for example, in a known manner,wherein the data protocol can utilize any number of standards, such asthe GSRM, the Data Protocol Standard for the GSM standard, for example.

The navigation device 200 may include its own mobile phone technologywithin the navigation device 200 itself (including an antenna forexample, wherein the internal antenna of the navigation device 200 canfurther alternatively be used). The mobile phone technology within thenavigation device 200 can include internal components as specifiedabove, and/or can include an insertable card, complete with necessarymobile phone technology and/or an antenna for example. As such, mobilephone technology within the navigation device 200 can similarlyestablish a network connection between the navigation device 200 and theserver 302, via the internet 410 for example, in a manner similar tothat of any mobile device 400.

For GRPS phone settings, the Bluetooth enabled device may be used tocorrectly work with the ever changing spectrum of mobile phone models,manufacturers, etc., model/manufacturer specific settings may be storedon the navigation device 200 for example. The data stored for thisinformation can be updated in a manner discussed in any of theembodiments, previous and subsequent.

FIG. 2 further illustrates an operative connection between the processor210 and an antenna/receiver 250 via connection 255, wherein theantenna/receiver 250 can be a GPS antenna/receiver for example. It willbe understood that the antenna and receiver designated by referencenumeral 250 are combined schematically for illustration, but that theantenna and receiver may be separately located components, and that theantenna may be a GPS patch antenna or helical antenna for example.

Further, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art thatthe electronic components shown in FIG. 2 are powered by power sources(not shown) in a conventional manner. As will be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art, different configurations of the componentsshown in FIG. 2 are considered within the scope of the presentapplication. For example, in one embodiment, the components shown inFIG. 2 may be in communication with one another via wired and/orwireless connections and the like. Thus, the scope of the navigationdevice 200 of the present application includes a portable or handheldnavigation device 200.

In addition, the portable or handheld navigation device 200 of FIG. 2can be connected or “docked” in a known manner to a motorized vehiclesuch as a car or boat for example. Such a navigation device 200 is thenremovable from the docked location for portable or handheld navigationuse.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a server 302 and anavigation device 200 of the present application, via a genericcommunications channel 318, of an embodiment of the present application.The server 302 and a navigation device 200 of the present applicationcan communicate when a connection via communications channel 318 isestablished between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 (notingthat such a connection can be a data connection via mobile device, adirect connection via personal computer via the internet, etc.).

The server 302 includes, in addition to other components which may notbe illustrated, a processor 304 operatively connected to a memory 306and further operatively connected, via a wired or wireless connection314, to a mass data storage device 312. The processor 304 is furtheroperatively connected to transmitter 308 and receiver 310, to transmitand send information to and from navigation device 200 viacommunications channel 318. The signals sent and received may includedata, communication, and/or other propagated signals. The transmitter308 and receiver 310 may be selected or designed according to thecommunications requirement and communication technology used in thecommunication design for the navigation system 200. Further, it shouldbe noted that the functions of transmitter 308 and receiver 310 may becombined into a signal transceiver.

Server 302 is further connected to (or includes) a mass storage device312, noting that the mass storage device 312 may be coupled to theserver 302 via communication link 314. The mass storage device 312contains a store of navigation data and map information, and can againbe a separate device from the server 302 or can be incorporated into theserver 302.

The navigation device 200 is adapted to communicate with the server 302through communications channel 318, and includes processor, memory, etc.as previously described with regard to FIG. 2, as well as transmitter320 and receiver 322 to send and receive signals and/or data through thecommunications channel 318, noting that these devices can further beused to communicate with devices other than server 302. Further, thetransmitter 320 and receiver 322 are selected or designed according tocommunication requirements and communication technology used in thecommunication design for the navigation device 200 and the functions ofthe transmitter 320 and receiver 322 may be combined into a singletransceiver.

Software stored in server memory 306 provides instructions for theprocessor 304 and allows the server 302 to provide services to thenavigation device 200. One service provided by the server 302 involvesprocessing requests from the navigation device 200 and transmittingnavigation data from the mass data storage 312 to the navigation device200. According to at least one embodiment of the present application,another service provided by the server 302 includes processing thenavigation data using various algorithms for a desired application andsending the results of these calculations to the navigation device 200.

The communication channel 318 generically represents the propagatingmedium or path that connects the navigation device 200 and the server302. According to at least one embodiment of the present application,both the server 302 and navigation device 200 include a transmitter fortransmitting data through the communication channel and a receiver forreceiving data that has been transmitted through the communicationchannel.

The communication channel 318 is not limited to a particularcommunication technology. Additionally, the communication channel 318 isnot limited to a single communication technology; that is, the channel318 may include several communication links that use a variety oftechnology. For example, according to at least one embodiment, thecommunication channel 318 can be adapted to provide a path forelectrical, optical, and/or electromagnetic communications, etc. Assuch, the communication channel 318 includes, but is not limited to, oneor a combination of the following: electric circuits, electricalconductors such as wires and coaxial cables, fiber optic cables,converters, radio-frequency (rf) waves, the atmosphere, empty space,etc. Furthermore, according to at least one various embodiment, thecommunication channel 318 can include intermediate devices such asrouters, repeaters, buffers, transmitters, and receivers, for example.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, for example, thecommunication channel 318 includes telephone and computer networks.Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, the communication channel 318may be capable of accommodating wireless communication such as radiofrequency, microwave frequency, infrared communication, etc.Additionally, according to at least one embodiment, the communicationchannel 318 can accommodate satellite communication.

The communication signals transmitted through the communication channel318 include, but are not limited to, signals as may be required ordesired for given communication technology. For example, the signals maybe adapted to be used in cellular communication technology such as TimeDivision Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access(FDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), etc. Both digital and analogue signals can betransmitted through the communication channel 318. According to at leastone embodiment, these signals may be modulated, encrypted and/orcompressed signals as may be desirable for the communication technology.

The mass data storage 312 includes sufficient memory for the desirednavigation applications. Examples of the mass data storage 312 mayinclude magnetic data storage media such as hard drives for example,optical storage media such as CD-Roms for example, charged data storagemedia such as flash memory for example, molecular memory, etc.

According to at least one embodiment of the present application, theserver 302 includes a remote server accessible by the navigation device200 via a wireless channel. According to at least one other embodimentof the application, the server 302 may include a network server locatedon a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual privatenetwork (VPN), etc.

According to at least one embodiment of the present application, theserver 302 may include a personal computer such as a desktop or laptopcomputer, and the communication channel 318 may be a cable connectedbetween the personal computer and the navigation device 200.Alternatively, a personal computer may be connected between thenavigation device 200 and the server 302 to establish an internetconnection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200.Alternatively, a mobile telephone or other handheld device may establisha wireless connection to the internet, for connecting the navigationdevice 200 to the server 302 via the internet.

The navigation device 200 may be provided with information from theserver 302 via information downloads which may be periodically updatedupon a user connecting navigation device 200 to the server 302 and/ormay be more dynamic upon a more constant or frequent connection beingmade between the server 302 and navigation device 200 via a wirelessmobile connection device and TCP/IP connection for example. For manydynamic calculations, the processor 304 in the server 302 may be used tohandle the bulk of the processing needs, however, processor 210 ofnavigation device 200 can also handle much processing and calculation,oftentimes independent of a connection to a server 302.

The mass storage device 312 connected to the server 302 can includevolumes more cartographic and route data than that which is able to bemaintained on the navigation device 200 itself, including maps, etc. Theserver 302 may process, for example, the majority of the devices of anavigation device 200 which travel along the route using a set ofprocessing algorithms. Further, the cartographic and route data storedin memory 312 can operate on signals (e.g. GPS signals), originallyreceived by the navigation device 200.

As indicated above in FIG. 2 of the application, a navigation device 200of an embodiment of the present application includes a processor 210, aninput device 220, and a display screen 240. In at least one embodiment,the input device 220 and display screen 240 are integrated into anintegrated input and display device to enable both input of information(via direct input, menu selection, etc.) and display of informationthrough a touch panel screen, for example. Such a screen may be a touchinput LCD screen, for example, as is well known to those of ordinaryskill in the art. Further, the navigation device 200 can also includeany additional input device 220 and/or any additional output device 240,such as audio input/output devices for example.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of an actual implementation of anembodiment of the navigation device 200. As shown in FIG. 4A, thenavigation device 200 may be a unit that includes an integrated inputand display device 290 (a touch panel screen for example) and the othercomponents of FIG. 2 (including but not limited to internal GPS receiver250, microprocessor 210, a power supply, memory systems 220, etc.).

The navigation device 200 may sit on an arm 292, which itself may besecured to a vehicle dashboard/window/etc. using a large suction cup294. This arm 292 is one example of a docking station to which thenavigation device 200 can be docked.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the navigation device 200 can be docked orotherwise connected to an arm 292 of the docking station by snapconnecting the navigation device 292 to the arm 292 for example (this isonly one example, as other known alternatives for connection to adocking station are within the scope of the present application). Thenavigation device 200 may then be rotatable on the arm 292, as shown bythe arrow of FIG. 4B. To release the connection between the navigationdevice 200 and the docking station, a button on the navigation device200 may be pressed, for example (this is only one example, as otherknown alternatives for disconnection to a docking station are within thescope of the present application).

The inventors discovered that navigation devices of today include manyfeatures and functions that are often difficult to find and use becauseso many functions are becoming available. The inventors discovered thata need exists to make it easier to use and find features they desire.Furthermore, the inventors discovered that it is difficult to adapt thesettings of a device to a different situation or user needs (which maychange from time to time) in an efficient and easy way. Thus, theinventors of the present application developed embodiments of methodsand implementations on a navigation device 200, to allow users toselect, activate, and/or adjust profiles to vary operational settingsand enable features in a user friendly manner. As such, instead ofchanging all settings one by one, the use of profiles make it possibleto change a multitude of different operational settings, associated witha profile, in an efficient and easy way.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a method includesproviding a plurality of profiles, each including a plurality ofoperational settings, to a user of a navigation device 200 forselection; and configuring the navigation device 200, upon receipt of anindication of a selection of a profile, to operate in accordance withthe plurality of operational settings of the selected profile.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a navigationdevice 200 includes an integrated input and display to display aplurality of profiles, each including a plurality of operationalsettings, for selection by a user of the navigation device 200; and aprocessor 210 to configure the navigation device 200, upon receipt of anindication of a selection of a profile, to operate in accordance withthe plurality of operational settings of the selected profile.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first example embodiment of a process of thepresent application. Initially, as shown in FIG. 5, in step S2 aplurality of profiles are provided for selection. These profiles can beprovided to a user upon initially turning on a navigation device 200 forexample, or can be provided upon a user selecting an icon 600 as shownin FIG. 6 of the present application for example. Upon processor 210 ofthe navigation device 200 receiving an indication of selection of suchan icon 600, a plurality of profiles 610, 620, and 630 as shown in FIG.7 for example, can be provided to a user for selection. It should benoted that the displays of FIGS. 6 and 7 can be achieved via anintegrated input and display device 290 of the navigation device 200 forexample, noting that the profiles 610, 620, and 630 can include labelsof and/or descriptions displayed therewith.

Thereafter, in step S4, upon receiving an indication of a selection of aprofile, the processor 210 may then configure the navigation device 200to operate in accordance with a plurality of operational settings of theselected profiles. Examples of profiles and operational settingscontained therein, will be explained as follows.

Operational settings within a profile can include settings forconfiguring a type or style of information displayed, the type or styleof a display itself and/or a display of information, a color scheme of adisplay, sound settings of the navigation device 200, power usage of thenavigation device 200, etc. In essence, operational settings linked to aparticular profile enable many different parameters (functional,stylistic, etc.) of a navigation device 200 to be configurable togetherto operate in a certain manner. Through the use of preset selectableprofiles and/or through the use of customizable profiles, a navigationdevice 200 can be more easily suited to fit stylistic, functional andother requirements of a user; noting that a default profile may be setfor a user for regular use.

Operational settings affected may basically include anything that has asetting. These can include, but are not limited to: music settings,settings related to instructions (e.g. full enable all verbal and orvisual instruction which may be practical when the user is unfamiliar ina certain area, and simple instructions where the user is in a familiararea), traffic information settings, safety related settings,communication related settings (e.g. bluetooth etc., e.g. for a flightprofile, this may be disabled when in an airplane for example), settingsrelated to kind of information displayed on the map, sound settings,perspective settings, settings that effect the menu's and the number offunctions available (e.g. hide some functions to make it easier/safer),settings related to phone, route planning preferences, voice settings(which kind of voice, e.g. computer voice, male human voice, etc.), etc.

Further, if a plurality of users share a navigation device 200, each ofthe users can easily customize the navigation device 200 to their likingby either establishing a profile and/or selecting any one of a pluralityof profiles. Further, operational settings within a profile are alsocustomizable. The navigation device 200 can store, in memory 230 forexample, a plurality of different preconfigured profiles, at least someof which may include operational parameters which are variable. Inaddition, profiles may be downloaded from a server 302 and/or even fromanother navigation device 200 of another user via a Bluetoothconnection, for example.

Thus, in step S2 of FIG. 5 for example, the processor 210 can provide aplurality of profiles to the user for selection via a display of theplurality of profiles on an integrated input and display device 290 ofthe navigation device 200. At least one of the profiles can includeoperational settings to enhance access, increase functionality, increasedisplay style, etc. for entertainment options on the navigation device200. This can be entitled, for example, a “music profile”, which canfocus on configuring the navigation device 200 in accordance with aplurality of operational settings, to permit, for example, easy accessto entertainment options within the navigation device 200. Further,another one of the profiles can include operational settings to enhanceaccess to, display of, etc. basic navigation options on the navigationdevice 200. Such a profile can be an initial profile automaticallyselected for the user, for example, such as a “getting started” profile.Again, such a profile could focus on basic navigation options.

Further, at least one of the profiles can include operational settingsto enhance an access to at least one of areas and Points of Interestproximate to a route of travel. Such a “touring/sightseeing” profile canfocus on easily accessing Points of Interest via the navigation device200 and can focus on an area around a route of travel of the navigationdevice 200. Such a route of travel can be easily established in a knownmanner by the processor 210 receiving indication of a selected or inputtravel destination, using a received GPS signal to determine a currentlocation of the navigation device 200, and utilizing stored mapinformation, stored in memory 230, to calculate a route of travel.

As previously indicated, each of the profiles can include a plurality ofoperational settings usable by the processor 210 to configure thenavigation device 200 to fit the particular profile. For example, a“dashboard” profile, a “racing” profile can focus on designing thedisplay to a user to include characteristics of an airplane cockpit forexample. The display information and color scheme can be adjusted, basedupon operational settings of the selected profile, to achieve such adisplay. In addition, sound settings can be adjusted to again enhancethis racing or dashboard profile objective. Again, such profiles can beloaded upon the navigation device 200 when initially purchased and/orcan be downloaded from a server 302 via a connection to the Internet forexample, in either a wired or wireless manner described above. Suchprofiles can be received from server 302 in a manner somewhat similar tothat previously described above. Further, for example, an XML plain textfile may be used for the profile format stored in memory 230, or a commaseparated file can be used to avoid XML. Further, the files may bestored in an appropriate folder in the memory 230, for example.

Profiles essentially offer to the user a combination of operationalsettings, to improve or even optimize a user experience to fit hisspecific user and or usage situation. Initially, the profiles providedfor selection may, for example, cover the most common use cases andusage situations for which improvement and even optimization of settingsis relevant. The idea behind the use of a profile is to make it easy fora user to choose and or change profiles in a limited number of steps,such as via selection of one of a plurality of present displayedprofiles 610, 620, and 630 of FIG. 7 for example. Alternatively, asshown in FIG. 8, an option to access profiles, for subsequent change ofoperational setting of the navigation device 200 for example, can bedisplayed as an icon 640, during a navigational view or in anavigational mode of the navigation device 200. Through the use of sucha shortcut icon 640, a new profile can be easily selected.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, the user may beprovided with an option to create a selectable profile of customizableoperational settings 9or customize an existing profile by at least oneof adding/deleting operational settings. For example, these can includethe type of information displayed, and/or the way information isdisplayed on the navigation device 200; displayed menu options; soundsettings; other settings such as color schemes, navigation informationto be provided on a navigation bar 650 as shown in FIG. 8 of the presentapplication, etc. These options to customize a user profile can beprovided, by the processor 210, based upon information stored thereinand once selected, the processor 210 can then configure the navigationdevice 200 to operate in accordance with the plurality of operationalsettings of the customized user profile.

Further, once customized, the navigation device 200 may be automaticallyconfigured to operate in accordance with the created profile and theoperational settings thereof, upon a profile of customizable operationalsettings being created and upon the processor 210 failing to receive anindication of selection of another profile. Such profiles can be namedby the user and/or can be created for each of a plurality of users ofthe navigation device 200, such that they are easily selectable in amanner previously shown and described with regard to FIG. 7 of thepresent application for example, depending upon which user desires toutilize the navigation device 200.

The various profiles established/customized can include any of useroriented profiles and usage oriented profiles, wherein operationalsettings of each type of profile can be combined into one singleprofile. User oriented profiles can include color scheme, voice, hotbuttons, status bar preferences, etc. and can be used and/or selectedfor different users that utilize the same navigation device 200. Usageoriented profiles can involve music, hands-free options for use of thenavigation device 200, safety cameras, battery saving modes, etc.wherein a user can design different preferences for use of thenavigation device 200, such as for use in vehicle and/or walkingnavigation and/or using a navigation device 200 for other navigation ornon-navigation purposes.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a profile caneither be selected in a manner previously described with regard to FIG.6 or 7, adjusted or updated as will be discussed with regard to FIGS. 9and 10 of the present application, edited as will be described withregard to FIGS. 10 to 12 of the present application, deleted orswitched. To create a new profile, the user should first initially namethe profile and can thereafter be provided by the processor 210 with a“wizard session” of a plurality of questions which, when answered, willdefine a new profile. The “wizard session” of questions can be alreadyestablished and can be presented by the processor 210 accessing theinformation stored in memory 230 of the navigation device 200, forsubsequent display on the integrated input and display device 290 forselection thereof. Alternatively, to create a profile with a “wizard”,it is also possible to save all the current selected settings in theentire system settings (or part of the system settings) into a newprofile.

Thereafter, the user can be provided with a plurality of selectableoperational settings which the user can choose to select and not select,which can include sound settings such as “sound on” for example, displaysettings such as “3D display,” usage settings such as “Left-handedoperation,” etc. The operational settings can include preferencesinvolving desired map colors, battery saving preferences, volumepreferences, planning preferences (such as to avoid roads like tollroads for example), etc.

Once each of the operational settings of the profile have been selectedby the user, and once each of the selection is received by the processor210 of the navigation device 200, such operational settings can be savedand stored in memory 230 as a “profile” for the user. Thereafter, ascreen is preferably displayed to the user asking if the user wants toactivate the newly established profile.

With regard to the various operational settings, these operationalsettings can be logged in the memory 230 of the navigation device 200.Thereafter, the processor 210 can couple these settings to a particularprofile and store these couplings in memory 230 such that when theprofile is selected, the navigation device 200 will be configured tooperate based upon the operational settings of the selected profile.After a profile is saved in memory 230, as a file for example, theprofile may be retrieved later when a displayed profile name isselected, for example. As such, the processor 210 will load each of thevarious stored settings into the system and will configure thenavigation device 200 to operate based upon the operational settings ofthe selected profile.

In an alternative embodiment of the present application, a user may bepresented with an option to modify a selectable profile. For example, auser can select a profile that he wants to modify or edit. Thereafter,the processor 210 can access the operational settings coupled to theparticular profile and can display these operational settings to theuser, in a sequential manner for example, along with unselected butrelated operational settings. For example, regarding the “dashboard”profile, upon a user desiring to edit that particular profile, theprocessor 210 of the navigation device 200 can display both the selectedoperational setting of the 3D display, along with an unselected 2Ddisplay. Similarly, regarding color scheme, the processor 210 caninstruct the display of a selected black and white display and anunselected color display, for example. Regarding the music profile, forexample, as the music profile may typically include a power saving modewherein a backlight of the display screen is switched off after athreshold number of seconds of no user interaction, for example, upon auser selecting a desire to edit such a profile, the processor 210 mayinstruct the integrated input and display device 290 to display both theselected options of power-saving mode and the unselected option of nopower-saving mode.

As shown in FIG. 9A, once a user has selected various options forediting a profile, a “profile updated” screen can be displayed andthereafter an indication of “profile updated” can be displayed as shownin FIG. 9B, wherein such a notification can be provided along with mapinformation, a flash message can be provided, etc., advising the userthat the profile was updated during normal navigation use of thenavigation device 200.

As shown in FIG. 10, editing a profile can initially be done byselecting an edit icon 660 in an initial preference menu, as shown inFIG. 10, selecting one of a plurality of profiles which the user decidesto edit in FIG. 11, and then selecting a particular option oroperational setting to edit in FIG. 12 for example. Alternatively, upona profile being selected, the next time the user turns the navigationdevice 200 on, the user may be reminded of the profile currentlyselected and/or the operational parameters thereof. Therafter, theprofile may be edited, for example.

Further, a particular profile may be deleted from the navigation device200, for example, in a situation where the navigation device 200 is setto store only a limited number of profiles. As such, the user can selectan option to delete a profile, and then the user can confirm this desireto delete the selected profile. If the deleted profile is the one beingcurrently used, a screen will be preferably shown to the user to let himselect one of the other existing profiles for current use. If there areno more profiles in the navigation device 200, a user can be prompted tocreate a new profile to replace the deleted profile. Further, the usermay be provided with an option to switch a current profile to adifferent profile. The user can either be provided with an icon forselection corresponding to “switching profiles,” and can thereafter beprovided with a plurality of profiles for selection such as those shownin FIG. 7 for example; or the user may be provided with a plurality ofprofiles for immediate selection upon powering up the navigation device200 for example.

As previously discussed, each of a plurality of profiles can bepre-stored in memory 230 or downloadable for use in the navigationdevice 200 including different operational parameters such asinformation displayed, color scheme, sound settings, power usage, etc.For example, an XML plain text file may be used for the profile formatstored in memory 230, or a comma separated file can be used to avoidXML. Further, the files may be stored in a route or in an appropriatefolder in the memory 230. Non-limiting examples of some of theseprofiles have already been discussed above.

For example, a music profile can be established, which includes anoperational setting of a power saving mode, wherein a screen of thenavigation device 200 is switched off after a threshold number ofseconds of no user interaction (for example, the user may get onlyverbal navigation instructions). Further, this switching off can includedimming or turning off completely a backlight power source of theintegrated input and display device 290 for example. Further, whennavigating with the music profile enabled, either a shortcut icon,selectable to access a music player or a dedicated music key may bepresented to a user for selection within the main navigation screenincluding the determined route of travel and map information (similar tothat of the icon 640 of FIG. 8, for example, noting that the icon can berepresentative of the profile selected, e.g. a music note icon for themusic profile). This is displayed on the integrated input and displaydevice 290 of the navigation device 200. Further, volume control may beused to adjust the volume of music, or a dedicated music volume slidermay be displayed within the main navigation screen. The navigation soundmay be muted or placed in the background, while music player or otherMP3 sound is being played as the main audio. Again, such operationalsettings can be configured upon the processor 210 recognizing that themusic profile has been selected.

An example of the “dashboard” or “racer” profile can include a focus ondaily usage when driving. The focus can be not on navigationinstructions, but on other information such as real speed, acceleration,G force, height, an economic driving indicator, traffic, hands freefunctionality, incoming messages, finding the nearest shortcut to anearby POI, weather, etc. The “dashboard” or “racer” profile can includea particular configuration of the displayed information so as to bereminiscent of an airplane cockpit style, for example. This profile canfurther allow for a one-touch exit button to enter a main or normalnavigation display mode.

Other non-limiting examples of profiles can include, but are not limitedto, a “power saving” profile which offer advanced power saving options,screen turn-off when no turns and an exit are within a threshold of anupcoming route, associations between power saving and accelerometerdata, etc. A “getting started” profile can include hiding menu options,settings and reducing displayed information in a minimalistic mode,offering tips and extra information, even on the most basic actions,etc. A “touring” or “sightseeing” profile may include less focus ondisplay of route of travel from A to B and more focus on nearby Pointsof Interest. A “traffic” or “business” profile can include activatingrerouting options, including trip recording controls, trafficinformation settings, and signals and a display etc.

It should be noted that each of the aforementioned aspects of anembodiment of the present application have been described with regard tothe method of the present application. However, at least one embodimentof the present application is directed to a navigation device 200,including an integrated input and display device 290 to display aplurality of profiles, each including a plurality of operationalsettings, for selection by a user of the navigation device 200; and aprocessor 210 to configure the navigation device 200, upon receipt of anindication of a selection of a profile, to operate in accordance withthe plurality of operational settings of the selected profile. Thus,such a navigation device 200 may be used to perform the various aspectsof the method described with regard to FIGS. 5-12, as would beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, furtherexplanation is omitted for the sake of brevity.

In at least one other embodiment of the present application, a methodincludes determining whether or not received information triggersimplementation of a profile on the navigation device 200; andimplementing the profile, upon determining that the received informationtriggers implementation of a profile, by configuring the navigationdevice 200 based upon a plurality of operational settings of theprofile.

In at least one other embodiment of the present application, anavigation device 200 includes a processor 210 to determine whether ornot received information triggers implementation of a profile on thenavigation device 200, and to implement the profile, upon the processor210 determining that the received information triggers implementation ofa profile, by configuring the navigation device 200 based upon aplurality of operational settings of the profile.

FIG. 13 illustrates another example embodiment of the presentapplication. In this embodiment, input information is initially receivedin step S12. In step S14, the processor 210 determines whether or notthe received information will trigger implementation of a profile. Ifnot, the method proceeds to normal operation in step S16, based upon areceived input information. However, if the answer is yes to thequestion posed in step S14, the profile is implemented in step S18 bythe processor 210 configuring the navigation device 200 based onoperational settings of the profile.

For example, certain profiles can be triggerable not just by selection,but also by context. For example, if the processor 210 receives anindication of an input or a selection of a travel destination, and thencalculates a route of travel based upon the map information stored inmemory 230, input or selected travel destination, and a current locationof the navigation device 200 determined based upon a received GPS signalfor example, the processor 210 of the navigation device 200 canestablish a route of travel. Further, the route of travel can becompared, based upon the length or estimated time of travel, to acertain threshold to determine if the route of travel is indicative of arelatively long trip. Mainly, the determined length of a route of traveland/or the estimated time of travel can be compared to a threshold whichcan then be used by the processor 210 to trigger implementation of a“long trip” profile for example.

Such triggers and when to compare such triggers can be programmed inmemory 230 and implemented by the processor 210. For example, a triggercould be a long route of travel such as a planned route longer than athreshold, such as a time of travel threshold (three hours for example)and/or a distance threshold. When the route of travel is determined, theestimated travel time is calculated and can be stored in memory 230 andcan then be compared by processor 210 to a threshold value. If the routeof travel exceeds such a time or distance threshold, a “long trip”profile can either be suggested (via a display prompt, a flashingmessage, etc.) or loaded.

Thus, simply based upon a determined route of travel, a particularprofile can have its implementation triggered, such that the profile canthereafter be implemented by configuring the navigation device 200 basedon operational settings of the profile in step S18. A “long trip”profile, for example, can include periodic reminders to take a break,changes in color scheme or various indicators to warn a user ofspeeding, power usage settings to place the navigation device 200 into apower saving mode, etc.

Thus, the received information which may or may not triggerimplementation of a profile in the navigation device 200 may includeinformation input to determine the route of travel, wherein the receivedinformation may be determined to trigger the implementation of theprofile upon the determined route of travel exceeding a thresholddistance for example. Regarding the various profiles that may beimplemented, these profiles may be stored in memory 230 along withrelated triggers and implementable, and at least one of the profiles mayinclude operational settings to enhance access to entertainment optionsin the navigation device 200, access to basic navigation options in thenavigation device 200, operational settings to enhance access to atleast one of areas and Points of Interest proximate to a route oftravel, etc. The operational settings may include at least one of acolor scheme setting, a sound setting, a power usage setting, and adisplay setting.

A further aspect of received information triggering implementation of aprofile may be a more automatic composition of the user's profile. Sucha profile can, for example, be built by the processor 210 frominformation about the user, including but not limited to: Is thenavigation device 200 of the user currently in a home country of theuser? Does the user understand the language of the current country inwhich the navigation device is located? Is the user familiar in thiscurrent area in which the navigation device is located? Is the userspeeding (or in a hurry)?, etc. The processor 210 can also use generalinformation: What time of the year is it (for example, some POIs willnot be available in winter)? What time of the day is it (Are shops stillopen. Is it dark)? What kind of weather is currently occurring? Whatkind of roads exist (sharp curves)?, etc.

For example, the processor 210 may determine (based on average speed andacceleration, for example) whether the user is walking, cycling ordriving a car. For each type of transport, a different profile may beselected by the processor 210 and used. Based on the selected profile,functionalities and preferences (operational parameters associated withthe profile) are adjusted by the processor 210. For example, the defaultPOIs enabled on a displayed map may be dependent upon the profile: e.g.Gas station POIs for the ‘Driving profile’ and public transport POIs fora ‘Walking profile’, etc. Also, the calculation of a travel route andthe instructions provided may be dependent on the profile. For eachprofile, the instructions may be timed differently, for example. For the‘Walking profile’ the instructions may contain ‘pedestrian’ elementssuch as crosswalks for example.

FIGS. 14A-C illustrate an example embodiment for conveying an activeprofile to a user. For example, as shown in FIG. 14A-C, the display ofthe navigation device, in a navigation mode, may indicate or otherwiseconvey the profile that the application is currently in. For example,FIG. 14A shows “Feet” representing a “walking” profile, FIG. 14B shows a“bike” for a “cycling” profile; and FIG. 14C shows a “car” for a“driving” profile.

Thus, in the process of FIG. 13, the information may be received by theprocessor 210 from a source other than the user. Further, the receivedinformation may include information useable to determine a speed oftravel of the navigation device, the navigation device subsequentlyimplementing a profile selected in dependence of the determined speed.Still further, the profile may be selected from at least one of awalking profile, a biking profile and a driving profile, and a display240, such as integrated input and display device 290, can display anindication of the profile selected to the user. The display 240 caninclude a display of an icon representative of the profile selected, asshown in FIGS. 14A-C for example; and the icon may be displayed with mapinformation during use of the navigation device in a navigation mode, asis also shown in FIGS. 14A-C.

It should be noted that each of the aforementioned aspects of anembodiment of the present application have been described with regard tothe method of the present application. However, at least one embodimentof the present application is directed to a navigation device 200,including a processor 210 to determine whether or not receivedinformation triggers implementation of a profile on the navigationdevice 200, and to implement the profile, upon the processor 210determining that the received information triggers implementation of aprofile, by configuring the navigation device 200 based upon a pluralityof operational settings of the profile. The navigation device 200 mayalso include a display 240, such as integrated input and display device290 for example, to display an indication of the profile selected to theuser, such as the icons of FIGS. 14A-C for example (alone or with mapinformation). Thus, such a navigation device 200 may be used to performthe various aspects of the method described with regard to FIGS. 13 and14A-C, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Thus,further explanation is omitted for the sake of brevity.

The methods of at least one embodiment expressed above may beimplemented as a computer data signal embodied in the carrier wave orpropagated signal that represents a sequence of instructions which, whenexecuted by a processor (such as processor 304 of server 302, and/orprocessor 210 of navigation device 200 for example) causes the processorto perform a respective method. In at least one other embodiment, atleast one method provided above may be implemented above as a set ofinstructions contained on a computer readable or computer accessiblemedium, such as one of the memory devices previously described, forexample, to perform the respective method when executed by a processoror other computer device. In varying embodiments, the medium may be amagnetic medium, electronic medium, optical medium, etc.

Even further, any of the aforementioned methods may be embodied in theform of a program. The program may be stored on a computer readablemedia and is adapted to perform any one of the aforementioned methodswhen run on a computer device (a device including a processor). Thus,the storage medium or computer readable medium, is adapted to storeinformation and is adapted to interact with a data processing facilityor computer device to perform the method of any of the above mentionedembodiments.

The storage medium may be a built-in medium installed inside a computerdevice main body or a removable medium arranged so that it can beseparated from the computer device main body. Examples of the built-inmedium include, but are not limited to, rewriteable non-volatilememories, such as ROMs and flash memories, and hard disks. Examples ofthe removable medium include, but are not limited to, optical storagemedia such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magneto-optical storage media, such asMOs; magnetism storage media, including but not limited to floppy disks(trademark), cassette tapes, and removable hard disks; media with abuilt-in rewriteable non-volatile memory, including but not limited tomemory cards; and media with a built-in ROM, including but not limitedto ROM cassettes; etc. Furthermore, various information regarding storedimages, for example, property information, may be stored in any otherform, or it may be provided in other ways.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thedisclosure, the electronic components of the navigation device 200and/or the components of the server 302 can be embodied as computerhardware circuitry or as a computer readable program, or as acombination of both.

The system and method of embodiments of the present application includesoftware operative on the processor to perform at least one of themethods according to the teachings of the present application. One ofordinary skill in the art will understand, upon reading andcomprehending this disclosure, the manner in which a software programcan be launched from a computer readable medium in a computer basedsystem to execute the functions found in the software program. One ofordinary skill in the art will further understand the variousprogramming languages which may be employed to create a software programdesigned to implement and perform at least one of the methods of thepresent application.

The programs can be structured in an object-orientation using anobject-oriented language including but not limited to JAVA, Smalltalk,C++, etc., and the programs can be structured in aprocedural-orientation using a procedural language including but notlimited to COBOL, C, etc. The software components can communicate in anynumber of ways that are well known to those of ordinary skill in theart, including but not limited to by application of program interfaces(API), interprocess communication techniques, including but not limitedto report procedure call (RPC), common object request brokerarchitecture (CORBA), Component Object Model (COM), DistributedComponent Object Model (DCOM), Distributed System Object Model (DSOM),and Remote Method Invocation (RMI). However, as will be appreciated byone of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present applicationdisclosure, the teachings of the present application are not limited toa particular programming language or environment.

The above systems, devices, and methods have been described by way ofexample and not by way of limitation with respect to improving accuracy,processor speed, and ease of user interaction, etc. with a navigationdevice 200.

Further, elements and/or features of different example embodiments maybe combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within thescope of this disclosure and appended claims.

Still further, any one of the above-described and other example featuresof the present invention may be embodied in the form of an apparatus,method, system, computer program and computer program product. Forexample, of the aforementioned methods may be embodied in the form of asystem or device, including, but not limited to, any of the structurefor performing the methodology illustrated in the drawings.

Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that thesame may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, andall such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art areintended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: providing a plurality ofprofiles, each including a plurality of operational settings, to a userof a navigation device for selection; and configuring the navigationdevice, upon receipt of an indication of a selection of a profile, tooperate in accordance with the plurality of operational settings of theselected profile.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providingincludes displaying the plurality of profiles for selection on anintegrated input and display of the navigation device.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the profiles includes operationalsettings to enhance access to entertainment options on the navigationdevice.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the profilesincludes operational settings to enhance access to basic navigationoptions on the navigation device.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the profiles includes operational settings to enhanceaccess to at least one of areas and points of interest proximate to aroute of travel.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providingthe user with an option to create a selectable profile of customizableoperational settings.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the navigationdevice is automatically configured to operate in accordance with acreated selectable profile of customizable operational settings upon aprofile of customizable operational settings being created and uponfailing to receive an indication of selection of another profile.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with an optionto modify a selectable profile.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein theoperational settings include at least one of a color scheme setting, asound setting, a power usage setting, and a display setting.
 10. Acomputer readable medium including program segments for, when executedon a processor of a navigation device, causing the navigation device toimplement the method of claim
 1. 11. A method, comprising: determiningwhether or not received information triggers implementation of a profileon the navigation device; and implementing the profile, upon determiningthat the received information triggers implementation of a profile, byconfiguring the navigation device based upon a plurality of operationalsettings of the profile.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein receivedinformation includes information input to determine a route of travel,and wherein the received information is determined to triggerimplementation of the profile upon the determined route of travelexceeding a threshold distance.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein theinformation is received from a source other than the user.
 14. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the received information includesinformation useable to determine a speed of travel of the navigationdevice, the navigation device subsequently implementing a profileselected in dependence of the determined speed.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein the profile is selected from at least one of a walkingprofile, a biking profile and a driving profile.
 16. The method of claim14, displaying an indication of the profile selected to the user. 17.The method of claim 16, wherein the displaying includes displaying anicon representative of the profile selected.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the icon is displayed with map information during use of thenavigation device in a navigation mode.
 19. The method of claim 11,wherein a plurality of profiles are stored and implementable.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein at least one of the profiles includesoperational settings to enhance access to power saving options on thenavigation device.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one ofthe profiles includes operational settings to enhance access to basicnavigation options on the navigation device.
 22. The method of claim 19,wherein at least one of the profiles includes operational settings toenhance access to at least one of areas and points of interest proximateto a route of travel.
 23. The method of claim 11, wherein theoperational settings include at least one of a color scheme setting, asound setting, a power usage setting, and a display setting.
 24. Acomputer readable medium including program segments for, when executedon a processor of a navigation device, causing the navigation device toimplement the method of claim
 11. 25. A navigation device, comprising:an integrated input and display device to display a plurality ofprofiles, each including a plurality of operational settings, forselection by a user of the navigation device; and a processor toconfigure the navigation device, upon receipt of an indication of aselection of a profile, to operate in accordance with the plurality ofoperational settings of the selected profile.
 26. The navigation deviceof claim 25, wherein at least one of the profiles includes operationalsettings to enhance access to entertainment options on the navigationdevice.
 27. The navigation device of claim 25, wherein at least one ofthe profiles includes operational settings to enhance access to basicnavigation options on the navigation device.
 28. The navigation deviceof claim 25, wherein at least one of the profiles includes operationalsettings to enhance access to at least one of areas and points ofinterest proximate to a route of travel.
 29. The navigation device ofclaim 25, wherein the integrated input and display device is furtheruseable to display an option to create a selectable profile ofcustomizable operational settings.
 30. The navigation device of claim29, wherein the processor is further useable to automatically configurethe navigation device to operate in accordance with a created selectableprofile of customizable operational settings, upon a profile ofcustomizable operational settings being created and upon failing toreceive an indication of selection of another profile.
 31. Thenavigation device of claim 25, wherein the integrated input and displayis further useable to display an option to modify a selectable profile.32. The navigation device of claim 25, wherein the operational settingsinclude at least one of a color scheme setting, a sound setting, a powerusage setting, and a display setting.
 33. A navigation device,comprising: a processor to determine whether or not received informationtriggers implementation of a profile on the navigation device, and toimplement the profile, upon the processor determining that the receivedinformation triggers implementation of a profile, by configuring thenavigation device based upon a plurality of operational settings of theprofile.
 34. The navigation device of claim 33, wherein receivedinformation includes information input, via an input device of thenavigation device, to determine a route of travel, and wherein theprocessor determines that the received information triggers the profileupon the determined route of travel exceeding a threshold distance. 35.The navigation device of claim 33, wherein the information is receivedfrom a source other than the user.
 36. navigation device of claim 33,wherein the received information includes information useable todetermine a speed of travel of the navigation device, the processorsubsequently implementing a profile selected in dependence of thedetermined speed.
 37. navigation device of claim 36, wherein the profileis selected from at least one of a walking profile, a biking profile anda driving profile.
 38. The navigation device of claim 36, furthercomprising a display to display an indication of the profile selected tothe user.
 39. The navigation device of claim 38, wherein the displayincludes displaying an icon representative of the profile selected. 40.The navigation device of claim 39, wherein the icon is displayed withmap information during use of the navigation device in a navigationmode.
 41. The navigation device of claim 33, further comprising a memoryto store a plurality of implementable profiles.
 42. The navigationdevice of claim 41, wherein at least one of the profiles includesoperational settings to enhance access to power saving options on thenavigation device.
 43. The navigation device of claim 41, wherein atleast one of the profiles includes operational settings to enhanceaccess to basic navigation options on the navigation device.
 44. Thenavigation device of claim 41, wherein at least one of the profilesincludes operational settings to enhance access to at least one of areasand points of interest proximate to a route of travel.
 45. Thenavigation device of claim 33, wherein the operational settings includeat least one of a color scheme setting, a sound setting, a power usagesetting, and a display setting.